Safety-receptacle.



G. F. RITOHEL.

SAFETY. REGEPTAGLE.

APPLICATION FILED mm. 27, 190?.

1,01 8,444. Patented Feb. 27, 1912..

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C. F. RITGHEL.

SAFETY BEGEPTAGLE.

APPLICATION nun FEB. 21, 1901.

1,018,444. Patented Feb. 27, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES IF. RITCI-IEL, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASS-IGNOR TO THE NEW YORK SAFETY CHEST COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SAFETY-RECEPTACLE.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. RITCILEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bridgeport, Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety-Receptacles, of which the following is a clear, full, and exact description.

My invention relates to a safety receptacle, that is, a receptacle such as is adapted to contain jewels or other valuables, and which when tampered with will give notlfication of such fact, and my object is to provide a receptacle which, when moved from normal posit-ion or otherwise tampered with, will give an alarm, preferably by ringing a suitable alarm gong.

My invention will be set forth in the claims.

In the drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 represents a vertical section; Fig. 2 a horizontal section on the line a2-m, and Figs. 3 to 6 represent details of construction somewhat enlarged.

In the construction of portable receptacles, such as jewel boxes, small safes, and the like, it has been found that it is desirable to set off an alarm when the same is tampered with, such, for example, as moving the same from its normal position resting on a horizontal surface, or tipping the same from its normal position, and in the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings I have illustrated a jewel box and mechanism which will automatically set off an alarm when jarred or tipped from its normal horizontal position.

In the drawings the receptacle is indi cated as a box having a main port-ion 1 provided with a cover 2 hinged to the main portion at 3. A compartment 44: is formed by a late 44 in any suitable portion of the box f dr containing the alarm. The alarm in this embodiment consists of a bell 30 provided with a hammer 29, having a detent portion 28 extending therefrom, and any suitable means may be provided for actuating the alarm, such, for example, as a spring motor which is indicated at 21. The spring may be wound up by a finger piece 31, and the stress of the spring is lmparted to the hammer through the gears 22 and 25 and the escapement pawl 27. The alarm is normally inoperative as the hammer is preferably normally held from reciprocation by Specification of Letters Iatent.

Application filed February 27, 1907.

Patented Feb. 27, 1912.

Serial No. 359,550.

means of a suitable control arm 36, which, when moved out of the path of the detent 28 releases the spring motor to sound the alarm.

In order to control the operation of the alarm and cause the alarm to be operated whenever the receptacle is tipped in any direction from its normal level position, I have provided a controlling mechanism which comprises a plunger or movable device 33 having spring 38 tending to throw it upwardly and a member 39 moved by the operation of gravity whenever the receptacle is so tipped, and which is preferably entirely inclosed Within the receptacle, that is, so that its operation cannot be tampered with from the outside of the box. Such gravity-operated member in the present embodiment, consists of a ball 39 which rests upon the movable device or plunger 33 located in a hole through the lowest portion of a shallow dished table or support 32, and it will be observed that the ball, when the receptacle is in its normal level position, will rest upon the plunger, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, and by its weight hold the same depressed against the action of spring 38. The plunger or pin 33 normally stands in the position illustrated in said figures, and, as it carries the control arm 36, said arm will normally render the alarm inoperative. When the receptacle is tipped from its normal level position the ball will roll off from the plunger 33 and cause the alarm to be operated, as the spring 38 will force the plunger up to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4, carrying with it the control arm 36.

In my construction illustrated I have pro vided means for automatically preventing the stoppage of such alarm even when said receptacle is restored to its normal position, and which will, when control arm such as 36 is used to hold the alarm mechanism from operation, prevent the return of said arm to normal position. In carrying out this feature of my invention I have provided, in the embodiment illustrated, a head 49 on the plunger or pin 33 which, when. the ball rolls away, will stand in the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4 and prevent the return of the ball, that is, it will prevent the ball from rolling back onto the plunger. The said head extends the pin or plunger to such length that it forms a stop to prevent the ball from rolling back over it when said pin is raised. Thus it will be observed that when the ball has released the alarm mechanism, the alarm will ring until the plunger is forced down to its original position by hand.

In order to restore the ball to normal position I have provided a hand-operated device which is operable from outside conipartment 1 1*. This may consist of a springpressed button 46 carrying a presser foot or blade 17 which, when depressed, will engage an extension 37 of control arm 36 and force said arm and plunger 33 connected thereto back to normal position and allow the ball to return to its normal position on the plunger.

In order to enable the box to be carried about when desired without releasing the alarm mechanism I have provided another hand-operated device which is also operable from outside compartment 4 1 and which is adapted to prevent the operation of said alarm even when said receptacle is tipped, and this may consist of a screw 45 which, when rotated, will engage with the ball 39 and lock it in the position shown. \Vhen locked by screw 15 the entire box may be freely carried about without danger of set-- ting off the alarm.

In my construction I prefer to have all the mechanism, and particularly the mechanism which controls the alarm, entirely inclosed within the receptacle, that 1s, so that it cannot be tampered with, or be accessible, from the outside of the receptacle, and in order to accomplish this I have, in the drawings, shown the receptacle provided with a false bottom 16. Beneath this bot-tom is located the compartment 4 1 formed by plate 4 1 which contains the alarm and op erating mechanism therefor. The devices 45 and 46, as will be seen, are operable from the outside of this compartment but are concealed from view by the false bottom 16 of the receptacle.

Fig. 5 illustrates a lock for the box, which comprises a plate 4 on the cover which is provided with a recess 6, and the main portion of the box is provided with a plate 6 which carries lock 10 and a part 8 of the lock which enters said recess when the cover is shut. 9 is a detent which is thrown out into the recess 7 when the key is turned to lock the cover. The cover of the box is one embodiment of a portion of the receptacle which is movable from outside the receptacle, and I have provided a let-off device which is adapted to automatically set off the alarm when said movable portion of the receptacle is moved. The let-off device which is moved by the cover, is, in the present embodiment shown in the drawings, a. rod 4C0 slidable in keepers 41 and which has a bifurcated projection 43 normally standing under the rod 37 projecting from the plunger 33, so that when said sliding rod 40 is moved upward the plunger will be moved to set olf the alarm whether the receptacle as a whole is moved or not. In order to set this let-off device ready for operation in the embodiment shown in the drawings, by connecting the cover wit-h the rod 410, I have provided a device which is operable by the locking of the receptacle and which connects the cover with said let-olf device. This in the drawings comprises a plate 11 which is pivoted at 12 and has a projection 13 which operates to overbalance the pivot plate and cause it to rock on its pivot when said plate is free to move, and thereby move the hooked lower end out of an aperture 42 at the upper end of rod 40. 14 is a pin on said plate which projects in the recess 7 in the cover. hen the cover locked the portion 9 of the lock is forced outward into this recess and forces the pin from the position indicated by 14 at the left of Fig. 6 to the posit-ion indicated by 1 1 at the right of Fig. 6, and also in Fig. 5 thus moving the plate 11 back to position indicated in Fig. 5 and connecting the hooked end of the plate 11 with the lever 40. This construction therefore constitutes one form of a means which is automatically operable by the locking of said receptacle for setting the let-off device ready for operation by the movement of the mov able portion of the receptacle which is, in the embodiment shown in the drawings, the cover. It will be observed that if the cover is pried open without unlocking the box, the latch will be raised by the movement of the cover and raise the rod 40 and set off the alarm.

I am aware that many changes may be made from the construction illustrated in the drawings without departing from the spirit of my invention as claimed, and "I therefore do not limit myself to such construction.

hat I claim as new is:

1. A receptacle having a lock and an alarm, means for operating said alarm normally in inoperative condition, means for rendering said operating means operative to sound said alarm when said receptacle is tipped in any direction from normal posi tion, a portion of said receptacle being movable from outside said receptacle, a let-01f device adapted to set off said alarm when said movable portion of said receptacle is moved, and means operable by the locking of said receptacle for setting said let-off device ready for operation.

2. A portable closed box provided with a cover and a lock therefor, an alarm, means for operating said alarm, means for controlling said operating means adapted to set off said alarm when said receptacle is tipped in any direction from normal position, alet-off device arranged to set off said alarm when said cover is moved, and means operated by the locking of said receptacle for setting said let-off device in its operative position.

3. A receptacle having an alarm inclosed therein, operating means therefor, controlling mechanism for said operating means comprising a gravity member moved by tipping said receptacle in any direction and adapted to then allow said operating means to operate said alarm, said controlling mechanism being incapable of stopping the ac tion of said operating means even when said receptacle is restored to normal position, and a separate hand-controlled device for restoring the parts of said controlling mechanism to normal condition ready for a new operation.

4. A portable closed receptacle, an alarm, operating means therefor, a compartment in said receptacle containing means for controlling said operating means comprising a gravity member moved by tipping said receptacle in any direction and adapted to then allow said operating means to operate said alarm, and ahand-operated means operable from outside said compartment for rest-oring said controlling mechanism to a normal position ready for a new operation.

5. A portable closed receptacle, an alarm, operating means therefor, means for controlling said operating means entirely inclosed within said receptacle comprising a gravity member adapted to be moved and to render the operating means operative when the receptacle is tipped in any direction, a spring-actuated device mounted to move into the path of movement of said gravity member when moved, to prevent the return of the same to normal position when the receptacle is restored to normal position.

6. A portable closed receptacle, an alarm, operating means therefor, means for con trolling said operating means entirely inclosed within said receptacle comprising a gravity member adapted to be moved and to render the operating means operative when the receptacle is tipped in any direction, a spring-actuated device held depressed thereby and adapted to move into the path of movement of said gravity member when moved, to prevent the return of the same to normal position when the receptacle is restored to normal position.

7. A portable closed receptacle, an alarm, operating means therefor, means for controlling said operating means entirely inclosed within said receptacle comprising a gravity member adapted to be moved and to render the operating means operative when the receptacle is tipped in any direction, a spring-actuated devlce below said gravity member and held depressed thereby and adapted to move into the path of movement of said gravity member when moved, to

prevent the return of the same to normal position when the receptacle is restored to normal position, and a hand-operated device for restoring the parts to normal position ready for a new operation.

8. A portable closed receptacle, an alarm, operating means therefor, means for controlling said operating means comprising a gravity member and a device against which said member normally rests, said gravity member being adapted to move away from said device when said receptacle is tipped in any direction, thereby setting off said alarm, said device against which said gravity member normally rests being constructed and arranged to then prevent the restoration of said gravity member to normal position, and hand-controlled means by which said parts are restored to normal position ready for a new operation.

9. A portable closed receptacle, an alarm, operating means therefor, means for controlling the operation of said operating means comprising a gravity member and a device below the same and against which said member normally rests, said gravity member being adapted to move off from said device when said receptacle is tipped in any direction, thereby setting off said alarm, said device being constructed and arranged to then prevent the restoration of said gravity member to normal position, and hand-controlled means by which said parts are restored to normal position ready for a new operation.

10. A portable closed receptacle, an alarm, operable means therefor, a shallow dished table mounted within said receptacle, means for controlling said operating means com prising a gravity operated ball movable upon said table, a spring-actuated plunger mounted at the lower portion of said table, and normally held depressed by said gravity ball, said ball being adapted to roll therefrom onto said table and release said plunger when the receptacle is tipped in any direction, said plunger being adapted to then remain in the position to which it is moved and thereby prevent the depression of said plunger by said ball.

11. A portable closed receptacle, an alarm, operating means therefor, means for controlling said operating means entirely inclosed within said receptacle comprising a gravity operated member and a movable device cooperating therewith to render said operating means operative when said recep tacle is tipped in any direction, said movable device adapted to prevent the restoration of the controlling mechanism to normal position when the receptacle is restored to normal position, and a hand-controlled device for restoring said parts to normal position ready for a new operation.

12. A portable receptacle having entirely inclosed within the same a gong, means for operating the same comprising a spring motor, controlling means therefor comprising a spring-actuated plunger and control arm carried thereby normally holding said motor from operation, a gravity operated member normally resting on said plunger to hold the same depressed, said gravity member adapted to be moved therefrom when the receptacle is tipped in any direction, said plunger when released from the weight of the gravity member adapted to be raised by its spring and withdraw the control arm from said motor, said plunger also being constructed to prevent the return of the gravity member to normal position when the receptacle is restored to normal position.

13. An alarm of the character described comprising a bell mechanism having a detent, a dished table with a central hole, a pin projecting through the hole, a ball on said table, a control arm connected with said pin and having one end engaging said detent, said pin being engaged by the ball to lock the bell mechanism out of operation,

and means for actuating said control arm and pin and releasing the bell mechanism when the ball is displaced from the end of the pin, the pin being of a length to form a stop to prevent the ball from rolling back over it when said pin is raised.

14. An alarm of the character described comprising bell mechanism having a detent, a dished table with a central hole, a pin projecting through the hole, a ball on said table, a control arm connected with said pin and having one end engaging said detent, said 'pin being adapted to be engaged by the ball to lock the bell mechanism out of operation, and a spring bearing against said control arm to actuate it and said pin and release the bell mechanism when the ball is displaced from the end of the pin, the pin being of a length to form a stop to prevent the ball from rolling back over it when said pin is raised.

15. An alarm of the character described comprising bell mechanism having a detent, a dished table with a central hole, a pin proj ecting through the hole, a ball on said table, a control arm connected with said pin and having one end engaging said detent, said pin being adapted to be engaged by the ball to lock the bell mechanism out of opera tion, means for actuating said control arm and pin and releasing the bell mechanism when the ball is displaced from the end of the pin, the pin being of a length to form a stop to prevent the all from rolling back over it when said pin is raised, and means for returning the control arm and pin to normal position against the power of the said actuating means and permitting the ball to again engage the end of the pin.

16. In combinatlon, a portable closed receptacle, an alarm, means for operating said alarm, and means for normally restraining said operating means, comprising a gravity member adapted to be moved and to render said operating means operative when the receptacle is tipped in any direction and a device provided with means for moving it into the path of movement of said gravity member when the latter is moved away, to prevent the return of the same to normal position when the receptacle is restored to normal position.

17 In combination, a portable closed receptacle, an alarm, means for operating said alarm, and means for normally restraining said operating means, comprisinga loose ball adapted to be moved and to render said op erating means operative when the receptacle is tipped in any direction and a device provided with means for moving it into the path of movement of said loose ball when moved away, to prevent the return of the same to normal position when the receptacle is restored to normal position.

18. In combination, a portable closed receptacle, an alarm, means for operating said alarm, and means for normally restraining said operating means, comprising a gravity member adapted to be moved and to render said operating means operative when the receptacle is tipped, and a device provided with means for moving it into the path of movement of said gravity member when moved away, to prevent the return of the same to normal position when the receptacle is restored to normal position, and means for positively preventing the operation of the alarm even when the receptable is tipped.

19. In combination, a portable closed receptacle, an alarm, means for operating said alarm, and means for normally rest-raining said operating means, comprising a gravity member adapted to be moved and to render said operating means operative when the receptable is tipped, and a device provided with means for moving it into the path of movement of said gravity member when moved away, to prevent the return of the same to normal position, and a presser foot for engaging a part connected with the said device for positively preventing the operation of the alarm even when the receptacle is tipped.

20. In combination, a portable closed receptacle, an alarm, means for operating said alarm, and means for normally restraining said operating means, comprising a dished table mounted within the receptacle, a gravity-operated ball movable upon said table, and a yielding pin or plunger mounted at the lowest portion of said table and normally held depressed by said ball, said ball being adapted to roll therefrom onto said table and release said pin or plunger when the receptacle is tipped and means for causing said pin or plunger to then remain in the position to which it is moved and thereby prevent the depression of said pin or plunger by said ball.

21. A portable closed receptacle, an alarm, operating means therefor, means for con trolling said operating means comprising a gravity member and a device against which said member normally rests, said gravity member being adapted to move away from said device when said receptacle is tipped in any direction thereby set-ting off said alarm, said device against which said gravity 7- member normally rests being constructed and arranged to then prevent the restoration of said gravity member to normal position and hand-controlled means located within said receptacle by the movement of which said parts are restored to normal position ready for a new operation.

22. A receptacle having an alarm inclosed therein, operating means therefor, controlling mechanism for said operating means comprising a gravity member moved by tipping said receptacle in any direction and adapted to then allow said operating means to operate said alarm, said controlling mechanism being incapable of stopping the action of said operating means even when said receptacle is restored to normal position, and a separate hand-controlled device inclosed within said receptacle for positively preventing the operation of the alarm even when .said receptacle is tipped.

23. A portable closed receptacle, an alarm,

operating means therefor, controlling mechanism for said operating means, comprising a gravity member moved by tipping said receptacle in any direction and arranged to then render said operating means operative to sound said alarm, a protective casing within said receptacle for said operating means and said controlling means, means controllable by hand from outside of said protective casing for restoring said controlling mechanism to normal position ready for a new operation, said alarm and operating parts all being inaccessible from outside of said receptacle when closed.

2 1. A receptacle having an alarm inclosed therein, operating means therefor, controlling mechanism for said operating means comprising a gravity member moved by tipping said receptacle in any direction and adapted to then allow said operating means to operate said alarm, said controlling mechanism being incapable of stopping the action of said operating means even when said receptacle is restored to normal position, and a separate spring moved device controlled by hand and inclosed within said receptacle for restoring the parts of said controlling mechanism to normal condition ready for a new operation.

Signed at New York city this 26th day of February, 1907.

CHARLES F. RITOHEL.

Witnesses:

F. WARREN WRIGHT, FRANK C. ROBERTSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

- Washington, D. G. 

